Yeah; they're permanently asleep now.

Regardless of whether or not this is the case, this is exactly the sort of situation that should be pointed to for an explanation of why this (implicit surgery costs) is a horrible, horrible idea.

~J

Cost.

As you say, the way they express the cost is completely broken.

~J

Gosh, how exciting it would be.

But, man, I've been sitting here thinking about it for a few minutes and it's really something I don't think I can do without my Shadowrun sourcebooks, which are back in the US. I'd need to look at specific prices, availability ratings, and the like, so as to try and approximate scarcity, demand, and so on. I may be able to create a physad entirely from memory but it gets a lot harder to remember every table in the deadly damage and healing section.

I can think of an overall conceptual framework, though, because it should actually apply to any medical goods and services that a Shadowrunner might want to move which are subject to supply and demand. I'd argue that even if we assume for the sake of argument that the regular fencing loot rules are terrific those rules seem to be designed to reflect luxury items, as the rules specifically mention novahot prototypes, expensive or unique gear, etc. Nobody NEEDS a top of the line assault rifle in the same way that the NEED a replacement limb that is secondhand. One is an enabler to let you do your job better. The other is basic to your quality of life.

So, basically, the difference is that medical supplies would be easier to sell than loot in places where there is a need for these medical supplies, but that when the supply exceeds the need they would suddenly be very hard to sell. What the hell are you going to do with a secondhard arm you don't need? It's a bit like the water diamond paradox.

So, I would consider the rule for medical supplies and secondhand limbs to work roughly as follows:

1.) Determine neighborhood that supplies are being sold in. That is to say, determine average level of wealth, level of demand (upscale neighborhood would have very low demand for replacement limbs or even top of the line cyberarms, barrens probably pretty high for all replacements), and number of clients (as a function of percentage of population involved in violent occupations). This represents the market for replacement limbs or other emergency medical supplies.

2.) Determine % of the market that the street doc can reach given visibility of clinic, reputation, etc. Determine how frequently these members of the market get injured and need a replacement; probably lower if the market is high end shadowrunners and higher for gangbangers. This determines how many clients from the market the doc will see per month or whatever. This will in turn determine either how many limbs the PC doc can sell, or else how many limbs the PC salesman can expect to sell to a local doc.

3.) Determine final factors. If the PC is selling limbs the doc is going to want to buy them for no more than 1/4 of his retail cost, I'd guess, and at most he might buy 10% more limbs than he needs if he wants to be sure that he won't run out. If the PC is the doc you'd need to roll some dice to allow for random fluctuations in demand; if a few more or a few less clients come in to buy limbs than expected. You'd also add a certain level of expenses to simulate the cost of preserving the limbs using refrigeration or whatever on a by-quantity basis, and finally you'd have there be a certain skill-based probability of reputation going up or down based on either an accident-free month, or the number of botched surgeries.

Don't forget that in the above example "limb" could mean a secondhand limb, or salavaged cyber...what the client is buying depends on his socioeconomic status.

Platinum and above, IIRC.

Right. Even in the basic rules for deadly damage you have the choice of either a cloned limb (if you prepared in advance) or a secondhand one. The secondhand one was basically the worst thing you could get and the only reason to do it was if you didn't have enough money for something better.

That's where the area market aspect of a rule would come into play. If you were in a poor area there'd be more demand for secondhand limbs whereas in a wealthier area the demand for cloned parts or cyber would be higher and secondhand would be lower.

Thats. Just. Twisted.

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